Civil society groups - and Cyril Ramaphosa - add their support for Gordhan and Sars officials
Civil society groups have rallied behind former senior SARS officials - among them Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan - who have been at the centre of a Hawks investigation into the so-called SARS Rogue Unit.
A number of them led a solidarity protest today at the at the headquarters of the Hawks in Pretoria - where former SARS officials Ivan Pillay and Johann van Loggerenberg arrived for their meeting with Hawks officials.
Gordhan was earlier this week ordered to present himself to the crime fighting unit to provide a warning statement - an instruction he defied.
Gordhan says he is under no obligation to meet with the Hawks because he was informed that he is not a suspect in the investigation.
Director of the Jesuit Institute of South Africa Russell Pollitt feels there is no basis for the charges against the Finance Minister.
"We question very much the credibility of the Hawks as well. They really seem to have lost their credibility as an investigative unit, and seem to be politically persuaded to do things for people in government," he said.
Freedom Under Law Chairperson and retired Constitutional Court Judge Johann Kriegler says prosecuting citizens through media is insulting and a breach of individual rights.
Meanwhile, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has also thrown his weight behind Gordhan - adding that the matter should be dealt with in a manner that does not destabilize the country's economy.
Ramaphosa was addressing the funeral of former sports minister Makhenkesi Stofile on Thursday, where Gordhan was among the mourners.
Earlier today President Jacob Zuma said he fully supports Gordhan and has confidence in him.